30.4.

2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 117/15

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 77/388/EEC as regards the place of supply of services’ (COM(2003) 822 final - 2003/0329 (CNS))

(2004/C 117/06)

On 13 January 2004, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the ‘Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 77/388/EEC as regards the place of supply of services’ (COM(2003) 822 final – 2003/0329 (CNS)). The Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 14 April 2004. The rapporteur was Mr Burani. At its 408th plenary session on 28 and 29 April 2004 (meeting of 28 April) the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 99 votes to one with one abstention.

1. Introduction 1.5 Similar ideas worthy of a brief mention are allowing all taxable persons to carry out their obligations by electronic1.1 On 23 December 2003, the Commission presented a means, the harmonisation of the content of invoices and theproposal for a Council directive (1) amending Directive acceptance of an electronic invoice, and the directive77/388/EEC, known as the Sixth Directive, as regards the place concerning e-commerce.of supply of services.

1.2 This proposed directive, whose purpose is to change the

place of supply of services where these transactions take place 2. Content of the proposed directivebetween taxable persons, is part of the Commission's workprogramme to improve the functioning of the internal market.

2.1 Current situation

1.3 On 7 July 2000, the European Commission adopted acommunication which presented its strategy to improve the 2.1.1 Article 9 of the Sixth Directive defines the place ofoperation of the VAT system within the context of the internal VAT taxation of supply of services. The special nature of thismarket (2). The purpose of this strategy was to draw up an article is that it sets out a general principle, which is beingaction programme aimed at achieving four key objectives: applied less and less (Article 9-1), and that it provides for exceptions that now affect an increasing number of transac- tions (Articles 9-2 and 9-3).— simplification of the existing rules;

— modernisation of the existing rules; — Article 9-1 defines the place of the supply of services as being the place where the supplier is established. The— more uniformity in applying the current rules; general principle is therefore to tax the supply of services in the country in which the supplier is established;— a relaunch of administrative cooperation. — Article 9-2 defines a large number of exceptions to this principle:The proposal submitted to the EESC's scrutiny relates to thesecond objective. — in point (a), it states that services connected with immo- vable property are taxed in the country in which the property is located;1.4 Several other initiatives of the Commission have enabledprogress to be made towards achieving these objectives. Thus, — in point (b), it states that transport services are taxed atwith regard to simplification, the Council adopted Directive the place where transport takes place, having regard to2000/65/EC of 17 October 2000, which removed, with effect the distances covered;from 1 January 2003, the right of Member States to imposethe appointment of a fiscal representative on intra-Communitybusinesses carrying out transactions in a Member State other — in point (c), it states that cultural, artistic, sporting,than that in which they were established. scientific, education, leisure, or similar activities are taxed in the country in which they are physically(1) COM(2003) 822 final -2003/0329 (CNS). carried out. The same applies to work on and valuations(2) EESC opinion: OJ C 193 of 10.07.2001, p. 45. of movable tangible property;C 117/16 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004

— in point (e), it gives a list of services for which the marked contrast to the Commission's stated aims of simplifying country of taxation is the country in which the the tasks required of businesses and citizens. customer is established, where the customer is a taxable person established in a country of the Union other than that of the supplier, or where he is established outside 2.3.1.2 The current rules lead to unfair situations of non- the Union. These services, an exhaustive list of which is taxation or double taxation, which can result in putting busi- supplied in the appendix, are generally known as nesses established outside the Union at an advantage, and busi- ‘immaterial’ services; nesses established within the Union at a disadvantage. The main reason for this lies in the fact that Article 9-2(e) applies — in point (f), it states that for services covered by the last only to a specific, limited list of exceptions, and that adding to indent of (e), i.e. services supplied by electronic means, this list would entail the long and laborious process of to non-taxable persons established within the European amending the directive. Union, the place of taxation is the country of the Union where these persons are established. This is to take account of Article 1 of Directive 2002/38/EC of 7 May 2.3.2 The application of Article 9-2(e) allows for the taxation 2002, which amends Directive 77/388/EEC. of services in the country of the customer, even if the supplier is established outside the European Union and, conversely, to exempt from tax those services rendered by suppliers estab- lished within the territory of the Union to purchasers estab- lished outside the EU. This mechanism ensures the neutrality of2.2 The reasons for the current situation the tax and equality between EU-based suppliers of these services and businesses established outside the Union.2.2.1 The current situation of the regime of the place oftaxation of the supply of services, which is defined by an 2.3.3 However, the above-mentioned rule is not mandatory:unusual principle (taxation in the country in which the supplier if a Member State decides not to apply it, particularly becauseis established), and by various exceptions (taxation in the the services in question are not included in the above-country in which the service is carried out or taxation in the mentioned list, services ‘exported’ by our businesses arecountry in which the purchaser is established) is due to the subjected to VAT (place of the supplier), and ‘imported’ servicesoptions that were taken up when the Sixth Directive was are not, which destroys the neutrality of the tax and puts busi-adopted. nesses established within the European Union at an undue disadvantage.

2.2.2 During the preparatory work for drafting that text, theCommission stated that it was faced with the difficulty ofharmonising the varied legislation of Member States, who haddifferent rules regarding the place of taxation of supply of 2.4 The Commission proposalsservices, with some countries preferring the place of establish-ment of the supplier, others, the place where the purchaser of 2.4.1 In order to remedy this situation, the Commission hasthe service was located. presented the proposed directive now under consideration. This:

2.2.3 In adopting the Sixth Directive, which represented a

big step in the completion of the Single Market, the Commis- — proposes that the place of taxation of services supplied bysion's intention was, of course, to create a unified definition of one taxable person to another be changed (Article 9). Thethe place of taxation of supply of services in order to reduce, general principle will be the taxation of the supply ofor indeed eliminate, the risks of double taxation or non-taxa- services in the country of the customer;tion of certain transactions. The choice made by the Commis-sion in 1978, and agreed by all the Member States, was madeon the basis of the various laws in force at the time and of the — takes the opportunity to clarify (Article 1(1)) that servicesnature of the most commonly supplied services of the era. rendered within the same legal entity – i.e. between different establishments of the same company, even where these are established in different countries – are not treated as supplies.

2.3 The consequences of the current situation

2.4.1.1 According to the Commission, the application of this principle would allow the above-mentioned problems to be2.3.1 The Committee shares the widely-held view that the remedied, by making it a principle that services suppliedcurrent situation has two sets of consequences that may be between taxable persons must be taxed in the place of theirprejudicial to the development of the Single Market: actual consumption, which, generally speaking, is the place in which the customer is established.

2.3.1.1 The rules currently in force are extremely complex

and go against the spirit of simplification on which VAT legis- 2.4.1.2 As regards services supplied to non-taxable persons,lation should be based. They are a hindrance to the activities of the place of taxation continues to be the country in which thebusinesses within the Union, particularly SMEs, and are in supplier is established.30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 117/17

2.4.2 Finally, as regards taxable persons who carry out both firstly, it is not clear what is ‘the place where the transport isactivities that are subject to VAT and activities that are not, the effected’ (point of departure? destination?), especially in theCommission proposes that they be considered, when they are case of air transport; and secondly, doubts arise about the needthe purchasers of a service, as taxable persons, except where to calculate as many rates of VAT as there are countriesthe services they are buying are for their own consumption. covered by the journey (‘proportionate to the distances covered’). Establishing criteria for land transport is difficult enough, but air and sea transport are likely to face even more2.4.2.1 According to the Commission, this redrafting of serious problems of interpretation and implementation. TheArticle 9 of the Sixth Directive allows most of the difficulties EESC considers a new, clearer formulation to be necessary.outlined above to be resolved. Above all, the rules should be harmonised such that passenger transport is treated in the same way as the transport of goods (see Article 9e).2.4.3 Next, the proposed directive provides for a number ofexceptions: 3.2.2 The Commission states that nothing in this field has— for tax purposes, the place of supply of services relating to been changed relative to the current situation. However, the an immovable property would continue to be the country EESC points out that the rules to be applied are, as already in which the property is located; stated, extremely complicated. Furthermore, they may in prac- tice give rise to different interpretations in individual cases, which will cause doubts over interpretation and create more— hotel services and motorway tolls are also taxed in the work for taxpayers and the authorities. The whole sector is one country in which the buildings or motorways are located; where greater clarity and simplicity are necessary. The EESC suggests that the rules should be radically revised in terms of— for passenger transport services, tax would apply in the their wording and, if necessary, their substance. country where the service is carried out, proportionate to the distance travelled;

— the place of taxation of cultural, artistic, sporting, entertain-

ment or similar services will be the country in which the 3.3 Specific services to taxable persons (Article 9d) service is physically carried out. This exception to the prin- ciple is in line with the general economic principles of the tax and allows the effects of service suppliers locating in 3.3.1 The Commission proposes that these be taxed in the countries with low VAT rates to be avoided. country of the supplier, subject to all three of the following conditions being fulfilled:

2.4.4 However, the new version of the article excludes from

its scope scientific and educational activities, which puts theminto the scope of the general principle. The aim of this, — the services are rendered in the Member State in which theaccording to the Commission, is to simplify the obligations of supplier is established;businesses operating in scientific research and education, whichare key sectors for economic development, and which are alsounlikely to relocate within the Union solely because VAT rates — the services require the physical presence of the serviceare different. provider and that of the customer;

— the services are provided directly to an individual for

immediate consumption.3. Comments and proposals

3.1 The Committee is in agreement with the aims of the 3.3.2 With respect to the third condition, if ‘individual’proposal and, on the whole, with the formulation of the new means a natural person who belongs to an organisation subjectregulations. However, these still seem rather complicated and to VAT, the rule seems to make sense; however, if this is thetherefore give rise to the concerns and the requests for clarifica- case, the EESC would suggest that, in order to reduce thetion that follow. On the other hand, it recognises that the burdens on businesses, it would be useful to repeal the Eighthmatter is complex and that rules of a general nature cannot VAT Directive and introduce a cross-border right of deduction.always address the various particular cases that arise in the day-to-day lives of businesses.

3.3.3 This category of exception does not include hire and

long-term (more than thirty days) lease transactions. These transactions would therefore be taxed in the country of the3.2 Passenger transport (Article 9b) customer, contrary to what is currently the case. A conse- quence of this would be to prevent certain customers from3.2.1 The Commission proposes to define the place of taking advantage of the rights of deduction in the supplier'ssupply as ‘the place where the transport is effected, propor- country when these are more favourable than those in thetionate to the distances covered’. This is difficult to interpret: country in which they are established.C 117/18 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004

3.3.3.1 However, the EESC notes that large transactions such principles of taxation between taxable persons and non-taxableas the leasing of aircraft and ships are included in this category; persons, steps must be taken to ensure that such a changethe benefits to businesses of moving takings from one country would not increase the administrative burden on suppliers orto another could be significant enough to encourage reloca- consumers. This development should enable a universal roll-outtions. of one-stop shops of the type that now exists for services supplied electronically.

3.4 Transport of goods for non-taxable persons (Article 9e)

3.4.1 Article 9e defines the place of supply of these services

as the place of departure. The Committee would like clarifica- 4. Conclusionstion as to how this article, which clearly concerns transportcarried out for the account of private persons, is consistentwith the way in which passenger transport is treated, which 4.1 As a general comment, the EESC notes that, with regarddoes not distinguish between taxable and non-taxable persons to taxable persons, the proposed directive enables the principlesand defines the place of taxation as being ‘the place where governing the place of taxation of goods and those governingtransport takes place, having regard to the distances covered’. the supply of services to be brought closer together. This devel- opment will simplify traders' obligations and, in certain cases, put EU businesses on an equal footing with those outside the3.4.2 The second paragraph of this article says that Member EU, as is already the case for the rules on import and export ofStates need not apply the tax to that part of the transport that goods. The Committee can only agree with this approach.is made over waters which do not form part of the territory ofthe EU. This exemption may well be logical, but the EESCfirmly opposes the granting to Member States of powers (inother articles as well as this one) to grant exceptions or not. In 4.1.1 In this context, the EESC calls for an accurate reflectionan area such as taxation, where harmonisation is a long way of the different types of services provided, with a distinctionfrom being achieved, the freedom to choose carries the risk of being made between universal services of general interest andworsening the existing differences in the way taxpayers are private services.treated.

3.4.3 As regards the application of the rule, the criticisms 4.2 The proposed directive needs clarifying in a number ofand suggestions made in paragraph 3.2.2 above also apply. places; the number of exceptions to exceptions also needs to be reduced to a minimum, as these risk further complicating a subject that is already quite complex in and of itself. Ultimately, the new rules are a long way from achieving the Commission's general aim of simplifying matters. The text should also be3.5 Electronically supplied services to non-taxable persons (Article revised so as to remove as far as possible Member States' room 9g) for interpretation of the provisions and the tax authorities' margin of decision-making autonomy.

3.5.1. This article provides that the place of supply for

services supplied by persons established outside the Com-munity shall be the place where the non-taxable person is 4.3 The new rules have reduced to a minimum the cases inestablished. The Commission has made it clear that non-EU which suppliers are obliged to register for VAT in the custo-suppliers must register for VAT in the country of the customer, mer's country, and they therefore favour the reverse-chargecollect any VAT that is due and remit it to the country of the mechanism, i.e. payment by the taxable person, giving rise tocustomer. This rule would apply until July 2006. Apart from the right of deduction for taxable activities.the obvious consideration that the above period is extremelylimited, and that nothing is said about what decisions willsubsequently be taken, the EESC would point out that such arule might be observed by large suppliers of electronic services, 4.3.1 The reverse-charge mechanism raises the problem ofbut is likely to be largely evaded by small or occasional checks. In order to allow for these, the Commission alsosuppliers of services to individuals. proposes to extend to services the VIES (VAT Information Exchange System), which has been in existence for goods since 1993. However, it is well known – and the Commission itself admits – that this system does not work satisfactorily, despite3.6 Other provisions having been in operation for over ten years. The Commission maintains that adding in the system data relating to services to those relating to goods ‘would not impose a significant burden3.6.1 The other exceptions relate to non-taxable persons, on administrations’. The EESC does not agree with this point ofwhom the text is obliged to take into account, as it amends the view. Not only would there be an additional burden, but it iswhole of Article 9. The current rules are maintained and also doubtful that the 2008 deadline for putting this systemrequire no comment. The Committee would point out that into operation will be met, given the difficulties that thewhilst it may be desirable at a later stage to harmonise the existing system already faces.30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 117/19

4.4 In conclusion, the EESC would like to make two final EESC believes that the time has come for the Commission andcomments. The first is that VAT is the most widely-evaded tax the Member States to set up a think tank of experts, econo-in Europe, and that such evasion a) encourages large-scale mists, and tax specialists in order to seek an innovative andfraud, which in turn feeds organised crime, and b) requires bold solution.Member States to expend significant resources to combat suchevasion. The cost of collecting this tax is not known, but it is 4.4.1 The second comment is a socio-economic one: thecertainly very high. We must add to our conclusions that this application of VAT, with all its faults outlined above, createsstate of affairs arises not from the rules, but from the system inequalities in treatment within the internal market of citizens/itself. It is surely time that the experts thought up alternative consumers, which are diametrically opposite to the much-systems that would ensure a level of revenue at least equal to talked-about policy of cohesion, and furthermore has quite athe current one but would be less costly to society as a whole number of exceptions to the rule. This is another reason forand more efficient from the point of view of collection. The reviewing VAT.

Brussels, 28 April 2004

The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Roger BRIESCHC 117/20 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.4.2004

APPENDIX

List of services covered by Article 9-2 (c)

c) the place of supply of services relating to: — cultural, artistic, sporting, scientific, educational, entertainment or similar activities, including the activities of the organizers of such activities, and where appropriate, the supply of ancillary services; — ancillary transport activities such as loading, unloading, handling and similar activities; — valuations of movable tangible property; — work on movable tangible property; shall be the place where those services are physically carried out.

List of services covered by Article 9-2 (e)

e) The place where the following services are supplied, when performed for customers established outside the Com- munity or for taxable persons established in the Community but not in the same country as the supplier, shall be the place where the customer has established his business or has a fixed establishment to which the service is supplied or, in the absence of such a place, the place where he has his permanent address or usually resides: — transfers and assignments of copyrights, patents, licences, trade marks and similar rights; — advertising services; — services of consultants, engineers, consultancy bureaux, lawyers, accountants and other similar services, as well as data processing and the supplying of information; — obligations to refrain from pursuing or exercising, in whole or in part, a business activity or a right referred to in this point (e); — banking, financial and insurance transactions including reinsurance, with the exception of the hire of safes; — the supply of staff; — the services of agents who act in the name and on behalf of another, when they procure for their principal the services referred to in this point (e); — the hiring out of movable tangible property, with the exception of all forms of transport; — telecommunications. Telecommunications services shall mean services relating to the transmission, emission or reception of signals, words, images and sounds or information of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other elec- tromagnetic systems, including the related transfer or assignment of the right to use capacity for such transmis- sion, emission or reception; — telecommunications services within the meaning of this provision shall also include provision of access to global information networks; — radio and television broadcasting services; — electronically supplied services, inter alia, those described in Annex L.